International trade of goods made by convicts is illegal in the US and in Cambodia, which has received preferential US trade terms on billions of dollars of products over recent years.
The International Labour Organization, of which Cambodia is a member, permits prison labor provided it is not forced.REUTERS
A former inmate at Correctional Center 2, a women’s prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, holds a polo shirt with an IZOD label that she said was made on prison grounds.AAFA’s first letter was copied to Pan Sorasak, Cambodia’s commerce minister, and Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Textile, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia.
Four people familiar with the matter, including two former CC2 inmates, said other items produced in the prison appeared to be linked to Walmart and Centric Brands, the licensing partner for Izod and other labels including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Under Armour. Both Walmart and Centric source goods from Cambodia.
The US companies, along with Walmart importer Travelway Group International, said they were investigating their supply chains in response to Reuters’ queries. “Without having the polo in-hand for closer inspection, it is impossible to definitively confirm its authenticity, including whether it is counterfeit or unauthorized,” Centric said.
A spokesperson for amfori said members were responsible for monitoring their suppliers and subcontractors, but that to the best of his knowledge amfori had not encountered cases of forced or prison labor in Cambodia and had not found a connection between its members’ businesses and CC2.The Office of the US Trade Representative did not answer questions from Reuters about potential repercussions of such labor at CC2.$1.
A tag from a reusable shopping bag with a Walmart logo that a former inmate at Correctional Center 2 said was made in a factory on prison grounds.Cambodia sets a minimum $200 monthly wage for garment workers, but the women said they usually received about $1.75 to $5 per month.
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